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Category Archives: England

Hello Colleagues, These are unprecedented and challenging times for so many, and those of us working in international education have certainly had a wild ride. The last few months have proven that the Champlain College approach to international programs provides a strong safety net and an ability to respond to any situation that comes our […]

One of the best parts about studying abroad is the opportunity to travel. When I came to the Netherlands I knew I wanted to see more of the world. Traveling, even for a short weekend visit, is the best way to learn about new cultures. The friends I made from my IES program were also excited to […]

BY Margaret Distefano, ’19 // professional writing

Part of Champlain’s unique academic experience centers around a Core curriculum instead of “general education” classes. The Core promotes the ability to express oneself intellectually— through four years of discussion-based classes that focus on the inner self, the Western tradition, global themes, and then a final Capstone connecting all three years. Travel courses are spread throughout second and third year Core classes, so students can take a travel course as early as their third semester at Champlain. The travel component not only provides another dimension to Core classes, but also works as a miniature study abroad experience for students who may not be able to study abroad for a full semester. For others, it confirms their desire to study abroad; for me, I’ve been toying around with studying abroad in London, and going with a travel course to the United Kingdom solidified my desire to try to study abroad in London in the Spring 2018 semester.

All of the Core travel courses highlight and add depth to the subject of the class—heroines and heroes, religion, history, and cultural themes. I went on a trip to the United Kingdom with a “Heroines & Heroes: Harry Potter” travel class, where we visited places all over England and Scotland that were related to Harry Potter film sites and landmarks. It was interesting because Hogwarts, the central location of the series, is not a real place. So unlike the other travel courses, we had the challenge of visiting fictional places. Continue reading →